Shadab Khan’s dropped catch cost us the match: Babar Azam

Pakistan captain, Babar Azam, believes Shadab Khan dropping the catch of Mark Chapman at a crucial point proved to be turning point of the match, as the left-hander went onto score an unbeaten ton and win the fifth T20I for New Zealand, thus levelling the series 2-2.

Chapman tried to go downtown against Shaheen in the 14^th over but spliced it and it carried all the way to Shadab, who drops an easy catch running across from wide long-on. Chapman was batting on 67 at that point and finished with 104 not out innings from 57 balls.

"The dropped catch obviously cost us the game," said Babar at post-match press conference.

However, the Pakistan captain was quick to defend his all-rounder and said that he will continue to support him.

"Shadab has given a lot of performances in the past. If his performance isn't good in one series, that doesn't make any difference to us. We will back him and he will perform again," he added.

Babar also defended wicketkeeper-batsman, Rizwan, who failed to accelerate in the end and fell short of his century by two runs.

"I think the way we started, on these surfaces in Pindi you keep in mind around 180, 190. And I think the way Rizwan and Iftikhar were playing, I thought 200 was on the cards because the wicket gets even better in the second innings," said Babar

"In the last three overs, Rizwan tried hard but couldn't connect them. I think he has done very well in the past but yes, we can say that we should've done well in those two overs and could've scored ten more runs. But that doesn't mean we lost only because of him, it happens sometimes when you're thinking of a plan in your mind but cannot execute it," he added.

The five-match ODI series between the two teams will start from April 27 at Rawalpindi.